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State of the O-line

TexansFight said:
Roderick Johnson looked good as the starting LT the first series. He got good push off the ball on running plays and gave Deshaun good pass pro. Matt Kalil needs to be cut immediately. We might finally have a decent o-line with the 2 rookies at G and an average LT.
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Martin has been the most over rated player on a bad OL and should have to compete for his job. By most reports, Fulton seems to be a better center than guard and might be an upgrade over Martin.

Now with all of this simple, common sense observations, sit back and watch the Texans overthink the starting OL.
 
ATXtexanfan said:
You guys dont get It.
Kalil is a great guy. Good guy. He works hard. Blah blah blah blah

I bet the GM OB went to bat to bring this guy in. OB gonna go out of way to save face.

But we know how HC OB is in game one. Quick to pull a guy
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If he went to bat to bring him in, and was determined no matter what to make him the starting LT, he would have made sure that he got guaranteed money. Being able to cut the guy before the season starts without having any financial repercussions doesn't smack of a guy that OB or anyone else is sold on.
 
sandman said:
If he went to bat to bring him in, and was determined no matter what to make him the starting LT, he would have made sure that he got guaranteed money. Being able to cut the guy before the season starts without having any financial repercussions doesn't smack of a guy that OB or anyone else is sold on.
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Or Gaine the GM pushed back ?

I think we've all gotten what we expected from Kalil. Which is a camp body and wasted reps.

Not arguing. Just amazed we have no idea who the hell is playing LT.
 
Lucky said:
Think about just a few weeks back and how absurd that sentence would have been then.
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TexansFight said:
Roderick Johnson looked good as the starting LT the first series. He got good push off the ball on running plays and gave Deshaun good pass pro. Matt Kalil needs to be cut immediately. We might finally have a decent o-line with the 2 rookies at G and an average LT.
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And tomorrow they'll be even better .
 
beerlover said:
It’s important they play as cohesive unit and help each other. I’m more bewildered with Center position. Maybe Martin comes back and asserts his starting role, perhaps not? Fulton has been solid while Rankin showed flashes. O’Brians plan of versatility may pay off yet, who knew.....
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If they make Fulton the starting C, will they still keep Martin and mancz? 3 centers?
 
ATXtexanfan said:
Or Gaine the GM pushed back ?

I think we've all gotten what we expected from Kalil. Which is a camp body and wasted reps.

Not arguing. Just amazed we have no idea who the hell is playing LT.
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Maybe. Just not sure that the OB who had the power to fire Gaine didn't have the power to give Kalil guaranteed money.

I think they addressed the LT situation with Howard, but not for this year. I don't think he or Dillard would be a successful Day One starter at LT. And I don't agree with some who want to throw him out there and let him fail. So let's see how they band-aid this year.
 
thetexanator said:
so rankin gone and martin gone. wow. we suck
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Depends on your attitude/mentality. If they actually do get cut we got better. But I wouldn’t sell Rankin short yet. Martin is not an ideal size at center. But no matter, he just can’t stay on the field. His in and out pattern just disrupts the OL play, IMO.
 
after watching the game last night: Kelemete and Davenport are OUT!! Max Sharping has become a starting guard .. he has the strength that Howard lacks to consistently win on the interior. Fulton and Watson work great together. No hiccups on the snap, no fumbles. Fulton is looking sharp barking the fronts and assignments. I wouldnt move him, but you know OBrien will. Martin will go back to C and we will have a game or two of missteps and mistakes before he "figures it out" .. Howard looks more fluid as a tackle (no surprise really) he's getting pushed around inside, and just seems to be thinking too much, getting caught in wrong recognition mainly when he's hopping back and forth between the positions. If you allow him to sit still for a few series he seems to settle in, but Im still not convinced he'll be able to handle the top flight edge guys yet, need to see him against more than backups.

My 8 OLinemen for the roster so far in no specific order yet: Howard,Sharping,Fulton,Mancz,Martin,Johnson,Rankin,Henderson(by default since nobody better on team yet) .. depending on how many guys they keep (8-9?) I'd say as of today Kelemete, Davenport and Kalil would be my cuts along with the camp bodies Pridgeon, Steinmetz, Shakir and Leonard maybe those guys go to the practice squad.

OBriens starting OLine? Kalil/Howard/Martin or Fulton/Sharping/Henderson
 
Uncle Rico said:
after watching the game last night: Kelemete and Davenport are OUT!! Max Sharping has become a starting guard .. he has the strength that Howard lacks to consistently win on the interior. Fulton and Watson work great together. No hiccups on the snap, no fumbles. Fulton is looking sharp barking the fronts and assignments. I wouldnt move him, but you know OBrien will. Martin will go back to C and we will have a game or two of missteps and mistakes before he "figures it out" .. Howard looks more fluid as a tackle (no surprise really) he's getting pushed around inside, and just seems to be thinking too much, getting caught in wrong recognition mainly when he's hopping back and forth between the positions. If you allow him to sit still for a few series he seems to settle in, but Im still not convinced he'll be able to handle the top flight edge guys yet, need to see him against more than backups.

My 8 OLinemen for the roster so far in no specific order yet: Howard,Sharping,Fulton,Mancz,Martin,Johnson,Rankin,Henderson(by default since nobody better on team yet) .. depending on how many guys they keep (8-9?) I'd say as of today Kelemete, Davenport and Kalil would be my cuts along with the camp bodies Pridgeon, Steinmetz, Shakir and Leonard maybe those guys go to the practice squad.

OBriens starting OLine? Kalil/Howard/Martin or Fulton/Sharping/Henderson
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Good stuff Unc, thanks for your report/analysis !
And your thoughts on Roderick Johnsons performance @ LT Saturday night ?
 
IDEXAN said:
Good stuff Unc, thanks for your report/analysis !
And your thoughts on Roderick Johnsons performance @ LT Saturday night ?
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Serviceable. Infinitely better than Kalil, but still not a starting NFL LT to me. He has a tendency to stand up tall, his punch isnt as great as I would like for a tackle, his feet are slow and clunking. I think when the results are better than expected people have a tendency to attribute it to the variable, but Detroit really didnt offer much in terms of resistance in their front 7, especially among the starters. I would much rather have Howard start at LT and take the lumps while HE learns the position. He has the feet and arm length that I like out there, but he needs to work on his strength, he gets tossed around alot.
 
steelbtexan said:
Dammit

Not surprising

Good news is Martin will be hurt again by game 5 or so.
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Martin should not be "given" a job. He hasn't earned it. Fulton should be C. Two things that separate C's from G's, the ability to snap the ball and make line adjustments. Martin sucks at both. How many snaps did we see that was too low or too high last year. The guy isn't great. Maybe he could play G, but there is no room for him as a starter with Howard and Scharping at G
 
O’Brien asked about Roderick Johnson: Lightyears of improvement from where he used to be. Good performance the other night. Wants to see him do it again.

— Cody Stoots (@Cody_Stoots) August 19, 2019

Bill O'Brien praised Roderick Johnson said key is can he do it again against Cowboys

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 19, 2019

Bill O'Brien on Martinas Rankin not getting work with ones 'It is a very competitive position'

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 19, 2019

O’Brien does not expect Tytus Howard to practice for the #Texans this week. Kalil might.

— Cody Stoots (@Cody_Stoots) August 19, 2019

Bill O'Brien said he expects Tytus Howard back for first game he broke finger out this week

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 19, 2019
 
I dunno how badly an offensive lineman is disadvantaged with a broken finger ? Obviously can't help but my guess it's much more of handicap for a D-lineman ?
Should Howard be able to start and play in the season opener in NOLA with the busted pinkie ?
 
IDEXAN said:
I dunno how badly an offensive lineman is disadvantaged with a broken finger ? Obviously can't help but my guess it's much more of handicap for a D-lineman ?
Should Howard be able to start and play in the season opener in NOLA with the busted pinkie ?
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I read this and immediately agreed. Upon further reflection .... you know how strong handed-linemen benefit from being able to get hold of their inner shoulder pads to steer and control the opposing lineman - when pass blocking.
 
Just for reference: combine measureables

Howard 6’5” 322lbs 34” arms 10 5/8” hands

Johnson 6’7” 298lbs 36” arms 10 3/4” hands

Obvious to me which one has prototypical measureables for NFL LT. Here is more about the two time 1st team ACC Left Tackle from Florida State.


NFL COMPARISON
Morgan Moses

BOTTOM LINE
Long-limbed left tackle who has the physical traits that teams want from their blind-side protector, but who is missing some of the body control and balance that is needed to succeed at his position. Despite his balance inconsistencies, Johnson can be a powerful run blocker when he gets defenders framed up. Teams will have to decide if they want to play him on the left or right side, but an offensive line coach will need to try and correct issues with his pass sets and his footwork before he gets his shot.


-Lance Zierlein
 
beerlover said:
Just for reference: combine measureables

Howard 6’5” 322lbs 34” arms 10 5/8” hands

Johnson 6’7” 298lbs 36” arms 10 3/4” hands

Obvious to me which one has prototypical measureables for NFL LT. Here is more about the two time 1st team ACC Left Tackle from Florida State.


NFL COMPARISON
Morgan Moses

BOTTOM LINE
Long-limbed left tackle who has the physical traits that teams want from their blind-side protector, but who is missing some of the body control and balance that is needed to succeed at his position. Despite his balance inconsistencies, Johnson can be a powerful run blocker when he gets defenders framed up. Teams will have to decide if they want to play him on the left or right side, but an offensive line coach will need to try and correct issues with his pass sets and his footwork before he gets his shot.


-Lance Zierlein
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Wouldn't it be great if Rod could put on about 15 pounds of muscle .... he is a natural mover .... I don't think he'd lose any quickness.
 
TheKDog said:
Tweet from @riversmccown: Roderick Johnson getting into a handplay battle in which he actually stymies a rusher for a bit did make me feel like I was watching a different team. https://t.co/vQP5uzztq5



from @riversmccown: One of Tytus Howard's best reps of the preseason, to date. https://t.co/wAAsRVju0d
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On 610 they think O'Brien is trying to trade Kalil and that's why he talks him up . Wade Smith Roderick Johnson was his runner up for camp MVP .
 
I haven’t watched a lot of football but I’m seeing guys competing. We’ve gotten use to crappy OL play under BOB. Hopefully that turns around. Not holding my breath.
 
TheKDog said:
Tweet from @riversmccown: Roderick Johnson getting into a handplay battle in which he actually stymies a rusher for a bit did make me feel like I was watching a different team. https://t.co/vQP5uzztq5
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This was a good rep for Howard... except there at the end when it looks like he quit knowing his QB was looking for a lane.

Scharping gets handsy like this a lot. Are they allowing this now or is it going to be a problem? He's definitely grabbing that outside shoulder pad & controlling the defender.
 
Uncle Rico said:
Serviceable. Infinitely better than Kalil, but still not a starting NFL LT to me. He has a tendency to stand up tall, his punch isnt as great as I would like for a tackle, his feet are slow and clunking. I think when the results are better than expected people have a tendency to attribute it to the variable, but Detroit really didnt offer much in terms of resistance in their front 7, especially among the starters. I would much rather have Howard start at LT and take the lumps while HE learns the position. He has the feet and arm length that I like out there, but he needs to work on his strength, he gets tossed around alot.
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Great analysis. If Roderick is just slightly below average at LT we are in much better shape than having Davenport play. Davenport was the worst LT I have ever seen in my 30+ years watching Houston NFL football. He can be serviceable backup and spot starter
 
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